Mining Blocks Generation Create Blocks

The functionality is separated in two phases – setup and block creation.

The block creation phase builds on the specification created during setup, adding user requirements into the same specification file.

On the Open Pit menu, point to Mining Blocks Generation, then click Create Blocks.

Block model

Block model file

Enter the name of the block model file, which will be used to read block model variables like density, and to calculate reserves.

Block Model Info

This displays important information about the block model that may be needed when filling in the parameters for the panels to follow.

Type

This displays the type of block model that has been selected.

Edit input polygons

Edit trim/production polygons

Pit

Select the preferred pit name.

Stage

Select the stage.

Bench elevation

Select a bench elevation.

Polygon editing panel

Click this button to display the editing controls.

Bench elevation

The bench elevation is carried over from the first panel, however, you may change the selection here to avoid returning to the first panel each time you wish to edit a polygon on at a different elevation.

Editing options

Click this button to display the Trim options. Depending on which option you select, the panel will change configuration to provide various options:

edit trim
replace string
free replace string

Using the edit trim option

Value

This controls the width between the polygons.

Select a point on one of the strings, then select a point on the opposite string. These will be guide lines and will be stored in the design database under the name MBG_TEMP_GUIDE_LINES. Do this at two locations.
A preview polygon will be displayed showing the results of the edit. The new polygon will be stored in the design database under the name MBG_TEMP_PREVIEW.

Using the replace string option

Click the icon.
Select the string to be modified.
Select a starting point and ending point.

Trim

Set string type for trim polygon.

Production

Set string type for production polygon.

Revert arrow

Click this to revert all your changes.

Using the free replace string option

Use the Cancel button to Return to Edit Polygons panel.

Trim Blocks

Action

Creating trim blocks is optional, depending on pit design requirements. The trim blocks are created by dividing the trim zones, produced by the Mining Blocks Generation setup, into smaller blocks. The trim mining blocks are designed to satisfy some geometric targets like distance, area, volume, or tonnage, and also the mining direction, specified in a subpanel of this page.

Create trim block polygons / Create trim blocks

First, trim polygons with parameters matching the required target are created for each bench trim zone. Then the trim blocks are cut out from the benches using the polygons. The polygons are saved in the design database, and the blocks are saved as triangulations, under the file hierarchy specified during setup.

Trim Blocks and Polygons

The Load from Setup button imports all pit, stage, and bench data from the setup and populates all subpanels.

The button in the Benches column opens the following subpanel:

Design Object Attributes

This table displays the attributes assigned to the layers.

Options

Tonnage

Calculate tonnage

Use this option to calculate tonnage of the mining blocks solids using a block model variable or constant density values.

All benches density - This uses the density from the block model.
Use the block cutting density settings - This allows you to use the density setting for each individual bench.

Default Density

Default density

Use this option to replace the density block model variable with default values. Enter a default density value instead of calculating the value.

Minimum Density

Minimum density

Use this option to replace the block model variable with density values less than or equal to the specified value.

Benches (Table)

You can delete rows from the Benches table on the Trim Blocks and Polygons subpanel, but to maintain data integrity, rows should not be added individually. It is recommended to use the Load from Setup Button to obtain the complete list of bench RLs.

Bench RL

The greyed out Bench RL and Bench Height columns are read-only and display the bench parameters, defined in the Benches tab in Set Up.

Create Automatically

The Mining Blocks Generation can create trim polygons automatically, use existing polygons that you have already created, or not create them at all. When the checkbox in the Create Automatically column is selected, the Mining Blocks Generation will create the polygons automatically matching the specified Cutting Direction, Target Type and Target Value. If the target type is tonnage, then a Density value must entered.

Unselect the Create Automatically checkbox at the bench row to disable the automatic trim polygons creation and to declare using existing polygons.

Target Type

Select a type from Area, Distance, Tonnage, or Volume.

Polygons Layer

This column specifies a layer name for each bench where the trim polygons are saved. Select a layer name to read existing polygons from.

Prefill button

The whole table can be quickly populated by clicking the Prefill button.

The Prefill Trim Blocks Parameters subpanel is displayed. Enter the Target Type, Target Value and Density.

The Trim Blocks Polygons Layer Name is defined by the user. The Select button displays the Layer Attribute Tokens pane.

A layer name will be constructed automatically for each bench listed in the Benches table.

The trim parameters will also be set in each row of the Benches table.

Options

Expand polygons at the block boundary by

Use this option for a minor correction of the trim polygons segments close to the bench boundary, to ensure the successful cutting of the bench solid with the polygon.